Variable width rigid awning



July l0, 1951 H. c. RIEMANN 2,560,243

VARIABLE WIDTH RIGID AWNING Filed April 1'?, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l www. qlmll Il 'mmv' .HHIHU NQ |IWW N lllmnlll In I v ll- H.. "W "W a "Wl W .I 11. um.

July 10, 195l H. c..R|EMANN 2,560,248

I VARIABLE WIDTH RIGID AWNING Filed April 17, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i arroje/V595.

Patented July U, 1951 'i' E S lUNITD VARIABLE v`WlD'Ii-I RIGID AWNING Howard C. Riemann, West Allis, Wis., assigner to The Fulton Company, West Allis, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application'pril 17, 1.948, Serial No. 21,574

(ci. 16o-222) 11 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to improvements in overhead shelters, and relates more specifically to improvements in the construction and operation of variable width rigid awnings for windows or the like.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an improved awning assemblage for Windows or the like, which may be readily varied in width so as to properly cooperate with windows of different sizes.

lIt has heretofore been proposed to construct window awnings of sheet-metal slats assembled to provide relatively rigid awning structures adapted to admit air and subdued light to the protected zones, While preventing ingress of direct sunrays, rain and snow to such Zones; and these prior devices also embodied mechanism for adjusting some of the slats for ventilation purposes. Because of the various conditions that these prior metal awnings attempted to fulfill, they were necessarily rather complicated, costly, and cumbersome, and did not aiiord the rigidity and strength necessaryto withstand all climates throughout the year, and the previous assemblages therefore never became highly popular with the general public.

It is therefore a more speciiic object of the present invention to provide an improved sheetmetal awning which is simple, compact, and durable in construction, and which may be manufactured and installed at moderate cost.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a highly eiective and exceedingly rigid window awning composed of relatively few simple parts, and which may be readily applied by a `novice to effectively cooperate with windows of various widths.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved sheet-metal awning assemblage adapted for year around servicein any climate, and which is highly attractive in appearance.

Still another important object of the inven- .tive and durable shelter.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

' A clear conception of the improved features 2 constituting my invention and of an embodiment thereof 'in a typical window awning, may be had by referring to the rdrawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate the Vsame or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. 1 is a front view of a typical variable width window awning unit incorporating the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary bottom view of the awning assemblage of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the assembled awning structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a somewhat enlarged perspective View of one of the slats used in the improved awning assemblage, showing one of the frame lor sup.- porting sections attached thereto; l

Fig. 5 is a further enlarged transverse section through several cooperating slats and framev sections, showing the slats adjusted for maximum awning width, and the section having been taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a similarly enlarged fragmentary inside view of the several slats and frame sections shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. '7 is a likewise enlarged transverse section similar to that of Fig. 5, but showing the slats adjusted for lesser awning width. i

While the invention has been shown and de.- scribed herein as having been embodied in a single window sheet-metal sectional awning unit especially adapted for use on homes or other dwellings, it is not my desire or intention to un'- necessarily limit the utility of the improved features to such use, and it is also contemplated that specific descriptive terms employed herein be given the broadest possible interpretation consistent with the disclosure.

Referring to the drawings, the improved variable width rigid awning unit shown therein com prises in general a series of elongated longitudinally inclined rigid slats l0 disposed side by side and each having high and low parallel offset iiat portions ll, l2 extending throughout its length and interconnected by a rigid transverse wall I3; and a sectional frame-work I4 for firmly but adjustably supporting the slat series with the high portion Il of each slat It overlapping the low portion l2 of the adjacent slat H3. The slats I0 are preferably formed with the aid of punches and dies from non-corrosive or protectively coated sheet-metal, and are of interchangeably similar unitary construction so that any desired number of these slats Il) may be assembled in order to produce top shelters or decks of any required width, The free edge of the high portion II of each of the slats i8 may be provided with a depending flange I and the free edge of each low portion I2 may be likewise provided with an upstanding flange i6, both formed integral with the adjacent slat portions II, I2 as shown in Fig. 4; and since the low portions I2 of the successive slats I0 are always at the same side thereof, a special slat I'I having no low portion thereon may be provided at one end of the series in order to maintain symmetry and improved appearance in the nal assemblage, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The main slats I0 may be curved at their upper ends and may also be provided at their lower extremities with vertical drip portions I9 as depicted in Fig. 3, and the lower end of each slat portion II may be rounded as shown in order to provide a scalloped lower edge for the assemblage. The upper and lower portions or each slat Il] are each provided with a transverse metallic frame element or section permanently secured to the slat by means of a rivet 2| or by welding, and each of these frame sections V2'0 constitutes a part of the frame-work I4 and has a U-shaped end 22 projecting laterally beyond its carrying slat I9 as clearlyillustrated in Fig. 4. The U-shaped projecting end 22 of each section 2D has an elongated slot '23 formed centrally therein; and the opposite end of each of these frame elements or sections is adapted to be telescoped within the U-shaped end 22 of the adjoining frame section 29 carried by an adjacent slat IU, and is provided with an integral internally threaded errule 24 formed to receive a clamping screw 25 adapted to ride along the slot 23 of the adjacent section end-22. The slots 23 and screws 25 denne the limits of lateral adjustability of the adjacent overlapping slats, and-when the screws 25 are driven home so as to clamp the successive wframe sections 2G to each other, the awning top is supported by rigid continuous upper and lower transverse frame bars extending entirely thereacross.

The opposite sides of the awning assemblage are provided with similar but reversely disposed :i

by means of screws 25 as indicated in Figs. l 'and 2. Each of the triangular side frames 25S may be formed of several pieces rigidly united in any suitable manner, and also constitutes a part of the main frame-work I4; and each frame 26 is provided with a top closure strip 28 extending longitudinally of and coacting with the adjacent upper slats I0, I T, and is also provided with a series of overlapping upright side slats 29 of gradually diminishing length rmly secured to the frame 2S by means of longer screws 36 as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3. These side closure slats 29 may also be formed with high and low portions and are permanently and xedly attached to the adjacent side frames 25; and the slats 29 cooperate with the strips 28 to provide tight opposite side closures the lower edges of which may also be scalloped to conform with the lower scalloped edge of the front and top deck. The high and low portions of the top and side slats I0, 29 may be colored to produce attractive stripe effects, and the strips 28 as well as the slats 25, may also be formed of suitable sheet-metal with the aid of punches and dies.

When the various parts of the improved awning have been properly constructed as above described, the opposite side frames ZE, strips 23 and slats 2Q may be permanently assembled and caused to coact with an intervening. series of slats IQ comprising any desired number of the latter. In order to assemble the slats I il, the upstanding side anges I6 of the successive slats should be inserted beneath the high portions II and within the side flanges I5 of the adjacent slats I9 whereupon the corresponding frame sections '29 should be telescoped over each other and the screws 25 should also be loosely applied to the adjacent slots 23 and ferrules 24, as illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. While the screws 25 are still loose, the several initially joined slats I may be shifted laterally relative to each other from the maximum expanded position shown in Fig. 5 to the minimum contracted position shown in Fig. '7, or to any desired intermediate position; and when proper' adjustment has been eiected, the screws Y25 may be driven home so as to clamp the frame sections 29 and the sections I in properly adjusted position. The special end slat Il may then be applied to the assembled top deck, and the upper and lower end sections 29 may be secured to the inwardly extending projections 2'I of the triangular side frames 26 with the aid of the screws 25', thus completing the awning unit.

After an awning unit has been properly assembled and completed as above described, it may be applied to a building and firmly attached in any desired manner to provide an efficient and rigid shelter adapted to withstand even the most severe and changeable climatic conditions. The improved formation of the top slats I 0, 29 with high and low integrally united portions II, I2 and integral side flanges I5, I6 at their overlapping edges, effectively prevents water, sleet, snow, and wind from passing between the coacting slats; and the frame sections 20 secured to the upwardly inclined slats I0, not only provide for convenient adjustment of the awning width, but also cooperate with the triangular side frames 26 to produce a strong and durable composite frame workV I4. The various parts of the improved awning may obviously be readily manufactured of suitable corrosion resistant sheet-metal with the aid of punches and dies with suiilcient accuracy to make like parts interchangeably similar; thus making the improved units well adapted for quantity production at moderate cost and for diverse uses. The high and low portions II, I2 of the slats I0, 29 may also be variously colored to produce attractive stripe eiTects, and the several parts of the improved awnings may obviously be readily assembled or dismantled with the aid of an ordinary screw driver, andmay be compactly packed for shipment, storage, and final distribution to the trade. My'improved awnings have proven highly satisfactory and successful in actual use, and may be manufactured in various sizes and shapes for diverse purposes at very low cost.

It should be understood that it is not desired D to limit this invention to the exact details of portion or an aajoiningslatand a transverse supportingfra-me` section secured-.to eachfslat and:

having an end portion overlappingvthe adjacent end portion. of the frame .section .of said..adjoin ing slat to unite'the 'overlapped slatsfsaid overlapped-iframe sections and slatsv being relatively. adjustable laterally-of -the-slatsto vary the ver.-..

allf Width of the united-slat. assembly.

high and a'low longitudinal nportion interconnect- @il ed by a rigid integral wall, said slats being disposed side by side with the high portion o one slat overlapping the low portion of an adjoining slat, and a transverse supporting frame section secured to each slat and having an end portion overlapping the adjacent end portion of the supporting frame section of said adjoining slat to unite the overlapped slats, said overlapped frame sections and slats being relatively adjustable laterally of the slats to vary the overall Width of the united slat assembly.

3. In a variable Width awning roof, a series of elongated longitudinally inclined slats each having high and low longitudinal portions of equal Width interconnected by an integral transverse wall, said slats being disposed side by side with the high portion of one slat overlapping the loW portion of an adjoining slat, and a transverse elongated supporting frame section secured to the underside of each slat and having an end' portion overlapping the adjacent end portion of the supporting frame section of said adjoining slat to unite the overlapped slats, said overlapped frame sections and slats being relatively adjustable laterally of the slats and longitudinally of the frame sections to vary the overall Width of the united slat assembly.

4. In a variable width awning roof, a series of elongated upwardly inclined slats each having parallel oil-set ilat portions interconnected by a transverse Wall, said slats being disposed side by side with one of said portions of one slat overlapping the other portion of an adjoining slat, a support secured to each slat and having an end portion overlapping the adjacent end portion of the support of said adjoining slat, and means for clamping said overlapped end portions of said supports to each other in various overlapped positions to vary the overall width of the united slat assembly.

5. In a variable width awning roof, a series of elongated longitudinally inclined slats each having high and low longitudinal portions of equal width interconnected by an integral transverse wall, said slats being disposed side by side with the high portion of one slat overlapping the low portion of an adjoining slat, a supporting frame section secured to the underside of each slat and having an end portion overlapping the adjacent end portion of the supporting frame section of said adjoining slat, said overlapped frame sections and slats being relatively adjustable laterally of the slats to vary the overall width of the united slat assembly, and means for clamping said overlapped end portions of said frame sections together in any position Within the range of relative adjustment thereof. j

6. In a variable Width awning roof, a series of longitudinally inclined unitary sheet-metal slats each having a high and a lovv longitudinal. portion interconnected by an integral transverse wall, said slats being disposed side by side with the high portion of each slat overlapping the low portion of the adjoining slatpandfa transverse. elongated vsupporting'-ffrarneforl said 'series 'cornprising 'a framersection secured to each slat and having an yend portion 'overlapping the f adjacent zend portionof the frame'sections of the adjoiningslats, said overlapping'portions of said Aframe sections being relatively adjustable-'laterally of the slats and longitudinally-of Ysaidsections to vary the overall -widthi'of theslat assembly.` Y

'7. In a-variable Width :awning roof, a series of longitudinally inclined unitary sheet-metal slats each having a high and-a lowlongitudinal portion interconnected by an integral transverse wall, said slats being disposed side by side with the high portion of each slat overlapping the low portion of the adjoining slat, a supporting frame for said series comprising a transverse frame section secured to each slat and having opposite end portions overlapping the adjacent end portions of the frame sections of the adjoining slats, said overlapping end portions of said frame sections being relatively adjustable laterally of the slats to vary the overall Width of the slat assembly, and means coacting with the overlapped end portions of said frame sections for clamping the same in any position within the range of adjustment thereof.

8. In a variable width awning roof, a series of elongated unitary sheet-metal slats each having parallel reversely disposed adjoining trough portions integrally united by a common intervening Wall, one of said portions of each slat overlapping the other portion of an adjacent slat and said Walls of the overlapped slats being adjustable toward and away from each other, a transverse supporting frame section secured to each slat and having an end portion overlapping the adjacent end portion of the supporting section of the adjacent slat, said overlapped ends of said supporting sections being relatively adjustable laterally of said slats, and means for clamping said frame sections in various overlapped positions.

9. In a variable width awning roof, a series of elongated rigid slats each having parallel iiat off-set longitudinal portions interconnected along their adjacent edges by a transverse wall and provided along their opposite edges With reversely directed ilanges, one of said flanges of each slat overlapping and engaging one ilat portion of an adjoining slat and being movable transversely thereof, several transverse supporting frame sections secured to each slat and having end portions telescopically engaging the adjacent end portions of the complementary frame sections of adjoining slats, and clamping means coacting with the overlapped end portions of said frame sections.

l0. In a variable Width awning roof, a series of elongated rigid slats each having parallel ilat oilc -set longitudinal portions interconnected along their adjacent edges by a transverse wall and provided along their opposite edges With reversely directed iianges, one of said ilanges of each slat overlapping and engaging one flat portion of an adjoining slat and being movable transversely thereof, and several trough shaped parallel frame sections secured transversely to remote portions of each slat and having end portions telescopically engaging the adjacent end portions of the complementary frame sections of adjoining slats.

1l. In a variable width awning roof, a series of elongated rigid slats each having parallel flat oil-set longitudinal portions interconnected along their adjacent edges by a transverse wall and provided along their opposite edges with reversely directed flanges, oneof said flanges of eachV slat overlapping and engaging one flat portion of an adjoining slat and. being movable transversely thereof, several trough shaped parallel frame sections secured transversely to remote portions of each slat and having end portions telescopioally engaging the adjacent end portions of the complementary frame sections of adjoining slats, and means for clamping the coacting portions of said frame sections in various relative positions to 10` vary the overall width of the slat assembly.

HOWARD C. RIEMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 21,053 Matthews Apr. 18, 1939 892,693 Stein July '7, 1908 1,481,823 Bonsall Jan. 29, 1924 2,251,572 Kuhn et a1. Aug. 5, 1941 2,467,351 Vollmer Apr. 12, 1949 2,486,660 Kurtz Nov. 1, 1949 

